Being Taught by God Through Special Needs Students: Part Five

As I looked out my office window I saw the earth return to life as spring began its magical wonder. It was April and Easter celebration was coming soon. As I ponder what to teach my students with special needs today I thought of a movie about the last days of Jesus’ life, His death and resurrection. “Perfect”, I thought, it will be a good reminder of the coming Easter season. Little did I know the lesson that awaited me.

After a little introduction, I started the movie. There was a good spirit in the class as we watched the greatest event in human history unfold – the atonement of Jesus Christ. However, as the movie started to depict the arrest and whipping of Jesus I could see on of my students Stephanie (a sweet girl with downs syndrome) become more and more concerned and agitated. When the movie portrayed Jesus being nailed to the cross it was more than Stephanie could take. All of a sudden tears started to stream down her face and in a loud voice she yelled at the TV,

            “No! No! Don’t do that to him he is my friend. He didn’t do anything wrong!”

Stephanie repeated this several times, each time displaying more emotion and volume. “Oh no, what have I done “, I thought as I tried to explain to Stephanie that this was just a movie and not the real Jesus, but to no avail. Finally I hurried and fast forwarded the tape to the scene where Jesus is resurrected, alive again, talking to Mary at the tomb. This calmed some of Stephanie’s worries and fears of what they had done to her Savior.

As the class ended and left, I reflected on what had just happened and Stephanie’s reaction to the movie. For her it was not a movie but the real Jesus we were watching and her heart ached as she witnessed what they were doing to him. She could no long hold it in; she expressed her broken heart and contrite spirit by defending the Savior and his perfect life. “Wow!” I thought. How real is Jesus to me, does my heart ach as I see how the world treats him today and do I express my love for him by having a broken heart and a contrite spirit?

Stephanie, thank you for your courage in standing up for the Savior and teaching me not to be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. 

Related articles:
http://relijournal.com/christianity/being-taught-by-god-through-special-needs-students-part-one/

http://relijournal.com/religion/being-taught-by-god-through-special-needs-students-part-two/

http://authspot.com/novels/being-taught-by-god-through-special-needs-students-part-3/

http://relijournal.com/christianity/being-taught-by-god-through-special-needs-students-part-four/